ABSTRACT
Adieu, beloved Earth! sacred asylum which contains all that is dearest to my heart! Adieu, precious remains of my friend, my companion, my sister! us said the sorrowing Malvina de Sorcy, as her tears fell on the tomb of her beloved friend, whom she had recently lost. – Adieu, dear shade! whom I shall never cease to regret; the destiny which pursues me, now tears me from the melancholy and soothing consolation of daily weeping over thy ashes. – I am going far from this spot, and ah how soon will the briar extend its rude branches over the stone which covers thee, and in a little time will even conceal it from the eye of friendship. I am going! and the dear remembrance of thee will accompany me for ever,5 while the frivolous admirers of thy youth will no longer remember thy existence. – ough Heaven, by continuing my life, prevents me from joining the dearest part of myself; that cruel moment which separated us, will never be e aced. – Ah! I shall continually behold that sweet smile, with which you endeavoured to console me; – and that last expressive look, which penetrated my soul as it was arrested by the seal of death. – Madam, the carriage is ready, said a little girl who came running, and interrupted Malvina’s melancholy soliloquy. She was followed by an attendant,6 who, observing Malvina on her knees in the snow, and her bosom touching the icy stone, hastily exclaimed,7 Good God, madam! are you determined to die on the tomb of my lady? It is a mercy from Heaven that you are obliged to leave this place! for though the season is so severe, you cannot resist visiting this tomb, morning and evening. – Malvina arose in silence, without attending to what had been said, for grief in such a mind as she possessed, withdraws it from the world. e situation of such beings is as little known as understood, and but few, very few, will even take the trouble to develope them. Ah, how few are there which can even comprehend the silent language which explains the sorrows, on which sensibility banquets, or ever mark its liquid essence, that falls involuntarily from the eye, while its deep source is enshrined in the heart.8
